Assist device for cutting bangs

ABSTRACT

Devices for assisting in cutting bangs are disclosed herein. In several embodiments, an assist device for cutting bangs can include a clear cover configured to cover at least the portion of a face in front of the eyes when a forehead contacting part of the cover is placed in contact with a forehead. The forehead contacting part can extend from side to side at an upper end portion on a back surface of the cover. The cover can further include a hair receiving part folded outward at a lower end potion of the cover, and can be configured to receive cut hair. The assist device can further include a handle attached at one end to the clear cover and a comb attached along the upper end portion of the clear cover.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

The present application claims priority to Japanese Utility Model Application No. 2012-6980 (now Japanese Utility Model Registration U 3181292), filed Nov. 16, 2012, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present application generally relates to hairdressing tools. In particular, several embodiments are directed toward a device that assists in cutting bangs and allows an individual to cut his or her own bangs.

BACKGROUND

Bangs are typically cut so that they do not extend into an individual's eyes. However, as hair grows (e.g., between visits to a hair salon), bangs can begin to get into the eyes and need to be cut or trimmed. Often times, an individual's bangs need to be cut before he or she needs a trim on the back or sides of his or her hair. At times like these, individuals will cut their own bangs or ask third parties who are not hair stylists to cut their bangs for them. Often times, this amateur cutting can result in bangs being cut in a crooked or uneven line, bangs being cut too short, and/or blunt cut lines that look unnatural.

Some devices have been made in an attempt to assist with bang cutting between haircuts, such as the device described in Japanese Unexamined Utility Model Application Publication H06-48505. This bang cutting assist device includes a fixed part and a movable part between which bangs can be sandwiched so they are fixed in position, and the free ends (extending from the device) can be cut with scissors. However, it can be difficult to properly arrange and sandwich the hair between the fixed and movable parts, and the hair flow can easily be disturbed when attempts are made to sandwich the hair. For example, the hair may be gathered into thick portions or separated to the right and to the left into thinner portions. When the hair flow is disrupted in this manner, the position of the bangs as they are being cut (e.g., while sandwiched between the fixed part and the movable part) and the position of the bangs after they are released from the device differ. This results in uneven cut lines and makes it very difficult to cut bangs into a desired hair style because it is unknown how the bangs will lay on the individual's face when they are released from the device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front view of a device that assists in cutting bangs configured in accordance with an embodiment of the present technology.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the device of FIG. 1 configured in accordance with an embodiment of the present technology.

FIGS. 3A-3C are a series of diagrams illustrating a method of using a device that assists in cutting bangs in accordance with an embodiment of the present technology.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present technology is directed toward devices for assisting in cutting bangs. Several embodiments of the bang cutting devices can be used when bangs are cut without disturbing the hair line or flow of the bangs that have already been untangled and arranged by brushing and/or combing. The device therefore allows individuals to cut their own bangs, or have a third party cut their bangs easily and neatly in a desired shape or design. Specific details of several embodiments of the technology are described below with reference to FIGS. 1-3C. Other well-known structures and systems often associated with hairdressing tools and hair styling tools have not been shown or described in detail below to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the descriptions of the various embodiments of the disclosure. Although many of the embodiments are described below with respect to the styling and cutting of bangs, other applications and other embodiments in addition to those described herein are within the scope of the technology. For example, the present technology can be used to cut different areas of hair (e.g., at the back of a person's head). Additionally, several other embodiments of the technology can have different configurations, components, or methods than those described herein. A person of ordinary skill in the art, therefore, will accordingly understand that the technology can have other embodiments with additional elements, or the technology can have other embodiments without several of the features shown and described below with reference to FIGS. 1-3C.

Many of the details, dimensions, functions and other features shown and described in conjunction with the Figures are merely illustrative of particular embodiments of the disclosure. Accordingly, other embodiments can have other details, dimensions, functions and features without departing from the spirit or scope of the present disclosure. In addition, those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that further embodiments of the disclosure can be practiced without several of the details described below.

Overview

The assist device for cutting bangs disclosed herein can include a clear cover that is large enough to cover at least the portion of a face in front of the eyes when a forehead contacting part is in contact with a forehead. The forehead contacting part can extend laterally from side to side at an upper end portion on the back surface of the cover. The cover can further include a hair receiving part at the lower end portion of the cover. The hair receiving part can be folded outwardly away from the face to catch hair as it is cut. The assist device can further include a handle attached at one end to the cover, and a comb attached along the upper edge portion of the cover. The comb can include a plurality of teeth that extend at an upward angle away from the face (toward the front of the device) when the forehead contacting part contacts the forehead and the cover shields in front of the eyes. In certain embodiments, the comb can include a row of teeth with deep gap parts and shallow gap parts alternatingly arranged between the teeth, the deep gap parts having deeper gaps than the shallow gap parts. This configuration guides the user to cut bangs in a stepped manner that produces natural-looking bangs, rather than bangs with blunt, straight edges.

In operation, a user can grip the handle of the assist device, place the forehead contacting part against a forehead of the person whose bangs are to be cut, and the assist device can hold bangs or other hair portion in the gaps between the teeth of the comb by passing the comb through the bangs from below. The user can then hold scissors in a free hand and cut the ends of the hair. If the user is the individual whose bangs are being cut, the user can look through the clear cover into a mirror while cutting his or her own bangs. Alternatively, the assist device can be used by a third party to facilitate bang cutting.

Before cutting the bangs, the user can untangle and arrange the hair flow of the bangs by combing or brushing the bangs. The assist device can then hold the hair in a desired position and maintain the hair flow of the bangs by passing the comb through the bangs. When the teeth of the comb are angled upwardly toward the front of the device, the teeth of the comb facilitate securely holding the bangs in position. Because the bangs are held in place by the comb, movement of the hair when being cut by the scissors is reduced and the hair flow remains undisturbed. Therefore, the device reduces or eliminates the variance in the position of the hair between, during, and after cutting, and there is a reduced likelihood that the bangs will be cut too much or in a crooked line.

Furthermore, the assist device can be held in a substantially stable position because the bangs are cut while the forehead contacting part is placed against or rested on the individual's forehead. The contact angle of the comb can be freely adjusted with the forehead contacting part used as a fulcrum and, because the comb can be moved easily, the comb angle and holding position can be freely set according to the desired cutting position. This easy manipulation of the assist device provides an increased degree of freedom of cutting positions and desired hair styles that can be accomplished.

Moreover, the device can at least substantially reduce the likelihood that cut hair gets into the individual's eyes or face and/or scatters about the individual because the cut is caught in the hair receiving part of the device.

Selected Embodiments of Devices for Assisting in Cutting Bangs

FIGS. 1 and 2 are front and cross-sectional views, respectively, of a device 100 that assists in cutting bangs configured in accordance with an embodiment of the present technology. The device 100 can include a cover 1, a handle 2, and a comb 3. The cover 1 can be made from a clear or substantially clear material. For example, the clear cover 1 can be made from a clear synthetic resin plate. An upper end portion of the cover 1 can be defined by an outwardly facing arc (when viewed in a planar view) so that the upper end portion generally follows the curvature of a person's forehead. The cover 1 can further include a forehead contacting part 10 that protrudes from a back surface of the upper end portion of the cover 1 and extends laterally from side to side in a similar outward arc shape as the upper end portion. The forehead contacting part 10 can be formed integrally with the upper end portion of the cover 1, or can be a separate component attached thereto. The device 100 can further include a hair receiving part 11 for catching or otherwise receiving hair as it is cut. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the hair receiving part 11 can be folded or otherwise formed outward in a substantially J-like shape at the lower end portion of the cover 1. The cover 1 can be large enough to cover approximately the upper half of a face so that the cover 1 shields at least the portion of the face in front of the eyes when the forehead contacting part 10 is in contact with a forehead.

In various embodiments, the forehead contacting part 10 can be omitted and/or another portion of the device 100 can serve as a forehead contacting part. For example, an upper edge of the back surface of the cover 1 can serve as a forehead contacting portion by placing the upper edge part against the user's forehead.

The handle 2 can be held by the user, and the cover 1 can be attached to one end (e.g., a first end portion) of the handle 2. In certain embodiments, the handle 2 may be removable from the cover 1. As shown in FIG. 2, for example, a fitting hole 20 can be formed in one end of the handle 2, and a fitting stem 12 that protrudes from the bottom end of the clear cover 1 can be mated with or otherwise connected to the fitting hole 20, allowing the cover 1 to be removable from the handle 2. The interface between the removable handle 2 and the cover 1 can include anti-rotational fitting, such as a key 13 (FIG. 2) that inhibits the cover 1 from rotating freely about the handle 2.

As further shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the comb 3 can include a base 31 formed in or defined by the curve of the outward arc of the upper edge portion of the clear cover 1. The comb 3 can further include a plurality of teeth 30 protruding from this base 31. In various embodiments, the comb 3 can be removably attached along the upper edge portion of the cover 1 by positioning the upper edge of the cover 1 into a fitting or groove 32 (FIG. 2) on the base 31.

The width of the comb 3 can be equal to the width of the hair that forms the bangs. The teeth 30 can extend upward from the cover 1 and angled forward away from the forehead when the forehead contacting part 10 is placed against the forehead and the clear cover 1 covers the portion in front of the eyes. When the teeth 30 are angled forward, the teeth 30 can be angled about 10-50 degrees in relation to the forehead (e.g., away from a vertical axis). In other embodiments, the teeth 30 can extend vertically in line with the upper edge of the cover 1.

As shown in FIG. 1, the row of teeth 30 of the comb 3 can include deep gap parts 35 that have long or deep gaps between the teeth 30 and short or shallow gap parts 36 that have shallow gaps between the teeth 30. In the illustrated embodiment, the deep gap parts 35 and the shallow gap parts 36 can be arranged in an alternating pattern along the length of the comb 3. In this embodiment, the shallow gap parts 36 can measure about ½ to ⅓ of the depth of the deep gap parts 35. In other embodiments, the deep gap parts 35 and the shallow gap parts 36 can have other dimensions relative to each other, and/or the deep and shallow gap parts 35 and 36 can be arranged in a different pattern. For example, outer portions of the comb 3 can include shallow gap parts 36 and a central portion of the comb 3 can include deep gap parts 35. In further embodiments, the row of teeth 30 may be formed such that the depths of the gaps between the teeth 30 are identical.

FIGS. 3A-3C are a series of datagrams illustrating a method of using the device 100 of FIGS. 1 and 2 for assisting in cutting bangs in accordance with an embodiment of the present technology. A user can first select a location and width (e.g., typically the width between the outer corners of both eyes) at which to cut the bangs. Hair on either of the bangs can be secured with a clip 9 (FIG. 3A), and the bangs can be untangled, brushed, and arranged at the selected location. After this preparatory work is completed, the device 100 can be used to aid in cutting and/or trimming bangs. The bangs can be cut by the individual whose bangs are to be cut or by a third party.

As shown in FIG. 3A, the user can grasp the handle 2, place the forehead contacting part 10 of the cover 1 against the forehead proximate to the bang hairline and pass the comb 3 through the bangs from below the bangs. As illustrated in FIG. 3B, the user can then lightly hold down the bangs that extend through the comb 3 with a finger or other tool to securely hold the bangs in place within the gaps 35 and 36 between the teeth 30. As shown in FIG. 3C, the user can then hold scissors 5 in a free hand and cut the ends of the bangs. When the user is the person who's bangs are being cut (e.g., as shown in FIGS. 3A-3C), the user can look through the clear cover 1 into a mirror to determine where to cut his or her bangs.

By passing the bangs through the comb 3, the bangs can easily be held securely in place without disturbing the arrangement of the hair flow of the bangs that have already been untangled by combing or brushing. Accordingly, the movement of the bang hair is substantially reduced or eliminated when the bangs are being cut by the scissors 5, and the hair flow remains undisturbed. This allows the user to achieve a finished cut without the cut line becoming crooked and without the bangs being cut to an undesired degree.

In addition, because the bangs can be cut while the forehead contacting part 10 is placed against the forehead, the device 100 can maintain good stability while being held by the user. In addition, the contact angle of the comb 3 can be adjusted with the forehead contacting part 10 as a fulcrum, and the comb 3 can be moved easily into desired cutting positions. Accordingly, the device 100 increases the degree of freedom of cutting positions, and therefore makes it possible to cut bangs in various different hair styles. Furthermore, the cut of the bang hair ends can be stepped so as to provide a natural feel because the row of teeth 30 of the comb 3 includes alternating deep gap parts 35 and shallow gap parts 36. In addition, the cover 1 of the device 100 can be shaped such that the cut hair slips down the outer surface of the cover 1 and is received in the hair receiving part 11. Thus, the device 100 prevents the cut hair from getting in the eyes, sticking on the face, and/or scattering, and therefore facilitates clean up. In various embodiments, the device 100 can also be used to assist in cutting the ends of the hair on the back and/or side of the head.

From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that specific embodiments of the disclosure have been described herein for purposes of illustration, but that various modifications may be made without deviating from the spirit and scope of the invention. Aspects of the invention described in the context of particular embodiments may be combined or eliminated in other embodiments. Further, while advantages associated with certain embodiments of the invention have been described in the context of those embodiments, other embodiments may also exhibit such advantages, and no embodiment need necessarily exhibit such advantages to fall within the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not limited, except as by the appended claims. 

I/we claim:
 1. A device for assisting in cutting bangs, the device comprising: a clear cover configured to cover at least the portion of a face in front of the eyes when a forehead contacting part is in contact with a forehead, wherein the forehead contacting part extends laterally from side to side at an upper end portion on a back surface of the cover, and wherein the cover includes a hair receiving part folded outward at a lower end potion of the cover and configured to receive cut hair; a handle having one end attached to the clear cover; and a comb attached along the upper end portion of the cover, wherein the comb includes teeth configured to extend forward at an upward angle when the forehead contacting part is in contact with the forehead and the cover covers a portion of the face in front of the eyes.
 2. The device of claim 1 wherein the comb comprises a row of the teeth having deep gap parts with deep gaps between the teeth and shallow gap parts with shallow gaps between the teeth, and wherein the deep and shallow gap parts are alternately arranged along at least a portion of the row. 